Paper-feeding mechanism.



A. BLOCK.

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 1350.20. 1915.

1,230,456 Patented June 19, 191,7.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

\ A. BLOCK.

Y PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED nc.20.19l5.

Patented June 19, 1917.

'ITNESSES:

Www

A.. BLOCK.

PAPER FEEDING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-20. 1915. 1,230,456. y Patented June 19, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES: I'YEXTOR A. BLOCK.

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED Dsc-20. Isls.

Patented June 19, 1917'.

' 5 SHEETS-smirk.

A. BLOCK.

PAPER reEmNG MECH/msm.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20| 1915. 1,230,456. PatentedJune 19,

l 5 SH EETS-SHEET N MM 6% A wfmzaa/ unrrnn sraarns rarnnr ernten.

ABRAHAM BLOCK, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PAPER-FEEDIN'G MECHAN'ISM.

maderas.

To all whom t may concern: i

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM BLOCK, a

citizen of the United States, residing at the gardless of what the thickness or surface may be, is gripped by a suction cup, then bent on an angle with relation to the stack,

\ and raised to a pair of feed rollers which deliver the article to the registering pins on the press. Another' object of the invention 1s to provide means for automatically stopping the feeding operation the moment a sheet or article is not properly delivered to the registering pins on the press. Another object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism which will handle sheets, envelops, etc., of practically any thickness without necessitating adjustments of any kind. Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a printing press, showing the application of the invention.

Fig. 2 is' a plan view in detail, showing the feeding and carrying mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the back stop on the paper holder.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. is a'vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section in detail of the paper feeding mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a detail View of the adjustable locking mechanism employed for limiting the upward movement of the suction cups.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patnfgd Jun@ 19, 19k?. Application filed December 20, 1915. Serial No. 67,760. i

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the suction cups, with connected lifting arm.

F ig. 9 is a side elevation of the gear train driving the paper feeding rolls and carrying mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a plan section on line 10-10 of Fig. 6. .1 j

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the inner pivotal mounting of the lifting arms by which the suction cups are carried.

Fig. 12 is a plan detail view of the hinge supporting the paper carrier, on line 12-12 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the timing mechanism, showing the normal position of same.

Fig. 14 is a similar view showing the tripped position of the timing mechanism.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the throw-out lever and the magnet by which it is operated.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged central section on line 1(3 16 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view ofthe paper spring guide.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the lug and clamp to which the spring guide is secured.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the paper contacting end of arm 76.

Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit which is controlled by the timing mechanism and the paper passing through the press.

Referring in detail to the drawings, A indicates the main frame of a printing press of suitable construction; 2 indicates the platen or pressure roller; 3 the vbed of the press carrying the chase and type; and 4 the lever which reciprocates the bed of the press through means of the connecting-rod 5, crank-shaft 6 and the gears 7 which in turn are driven by a pulley 8 and .motor 9.

Mounted adjacent to the platen or pressure roller 2 is a plurality of registering pins 10. These are depressed or lowered into the position shown at the time a sheet of paper is delivered by means ofthe carrier 11 and are similarly raised when the feed rollers 12 are turned in the direction shown to pass the paper between the Platen l Suitahly secured.y as i3. to the e -n the mein treme il is loreclet Treme fill. This is provided es a support for the peper holder l5 und the feeding mechanism hy which the individuel sheets ot VL.ener raised :ind iflelirered to the carrier li. wh'oli in turn convois the peper to the rediste-ringpins "iO im where is inellv delivered to the platen hv ineens ot the feed rollers The peper ce. r, holder or piro/telly mounteda es et li, in the hrecliet or tl e oit permittinga it lion. :is will ldie oit on the peper holder is e downwardly extending slottec hrziclret l? through wliich posses the thiinih-screw This forms means hy which the rear end o the peper holder may he llllel shout the pivot lf3 .Sind Asecmel.J when mliusted. flounteil on the holder wir of side pistes l@ which ere adinetelile klaterally ot the holder. Vllhis ecconr plished hy slo'f"iiip the holder, :is 205 to permit the screws 2l? mounted in the guide plates. to poss therethron. l a this heilig shown in detail in Fig. et. n enlarged de toil ot the angular ndjusnng mechenisim comprising lug end clamp screw 18, is shown in Fig.

The adjustable mounting et tlie plates 19 is provided for the purpose or per nutting sheets oi paper ot diilerent widths to be placed upon the holden :ind also ttor the purpose oi? adjusting the position of the sheets upon the holder. A stecl oit peper placed upon the holder is thus guided hy the plates i9 and secured :igeinst endwise movement h v e heck stop 22, such es shown in Fig. 3. The forward end et the peper stack engages e plete 23 which is vertically slotted.r es it 2st? to permit s jet of oir snpplied by a. bellows 25 to he passed therethrough.

By referring to Fi. 2, it will be seen that only n single narrow sheet of peper is being ed. The provision of the centrally disposed guide plete 19a permits the feeding of two narrow sheets, cords, envelope., etc., as two cups are provided, one for each sheet. ln actual practice it is found that one cup is suilicient where e. narrow sheet is being Jfed und that two cups must loe employed where comparatively wide sheets ere beingted. The central guide plete 19a is, therefore, removed when feeding sheets suiciently wide to he gripped by the two cups shown.

Referring to Fig, l0, it will be seen that two or more slots 24 may be provided. The air supplied hy the bellows 25 passes through a, flexible tube 26 into e horizontal pipe 27 slotted times 28 positie l ts 'formed in n t the bellows 25 `thrK i the slots Q peper steel? in i Till torce am cups lcnihle hose l connecte cet-ion of the connection 2:35 with i throng n u the topmost shee f.. lijf the suction cups 32. to sition shown et where the sheet liroupi c surface of n movement of the lower shown revolved means of b will, he s that the gifted snee' gripped ti, rollers end g i .1 the direction o arrows o and deposite( tie cerrier ll, which, es previcuelj,y scribed. delivers it to the registering pins and 'feed rollers l2. p

The lifting of the erm 3l? hy which the suction cups 32 ere carried7 is eccompi' e :is follows: Extending' between end onrnsled in the outer ends of bracket is e 3T, upon which the icl-shaped `.l is loosely mounted. Secured to the s is e crenlr 38, sind connected with one end or the crenlr` is e link 39, the opposite end of which is connected with a crank pin. secured upon e timing dish el which is driven in unison with gear 7 and crank-shaft 6. The crank pin l0 extends into i hloclr e2, slidnhlv mounted on the link The movement of the block 4t2 is limited in one direction hy a stop screw 43 and is cushioned end partly limited in the opposite direction by means of e coil spring e4 and en ediustahle set coller 45. The crank movement imparted hy pin e() to link 39 causes this7 witha connected crank 38, to reciprocate, end this reciproceting movement of the link end the the U-shaped arm 31 to and from the paper stack 29.

The yielding connection between the crank pin 40 and link 39 is provided for two purposes: First, referring to Figs. 1 and 6 it will be seen that a stack ofpaper placed in position on the holder 15 between the guide plates 19 gradually decreases in height as the sheets are gradually removed. This necessarily requires alvariable-movement of arm 31. Second, referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that movement of the crank in the direction of the arrow permits the arm 31 to upon which the suction cups are mounted,

is thus brought to rest on top of the paper stack and will not move up until the movement of link 39 and the crank is reversed. A

. period of rest is thus insured between each up and down movement of the arm, which is very beneficial as it gives the suction cups suiiicient time to grip the topmost sheet. Tt, furthermore, permits a variable movement of the arm 31 as the stack decreases in height.

The detail views of the crank arm 38 and one side of arm 31 is shown in Fig. 11. The

crank pin is necessarily transmitted through the sliding block and the spring 44. A gradual compression of the spring takes place before the crank and arm 31 are lifted, and the starting or first movement of said arm is, therefore, slow. This is of considerable importance when feeding paper in the manner described, as the lifting of the topmost sheet, when removed slowly, is less liable to draw a second sheet with it than when it is moved quickly away from the stack.

Another important feature of the present invention is the construction of the suction cups. Referring to Fig. 6, it willbe seen that the cup 32 is secured eXteriorly of a downwardly projecting rigid member 48, in the form of a tube. When suction is transmitted through the tube 33 and member 48 it will be seen that the edge of the cup 32 resting on thetopmost sheet will be drawn up into the dotted line position indicated at 32", or, in other words, untilthe paper engages with the angularly positioned mouth of member 48. This movement of the suction cup lifts the end-of the topmost sheet into the dotted line position shown at 49 where further movement is limited by the stop member 49a. This produces a bending movement of the outer endKV of the sheet which thoroughly separates it fromthe other sheets before it is lifted by the arms. The comparatively slow movement of arm 31, caused by the gradual compression of spring 44, furthermore, tends to keep the sheets separated, as previously described. The slow movement of the arm 31, the bending of the sheet into the dotted line position 49, and the alternate blasts of air passing through the slots 24 directly against the end of the paper stack are all necessary and important as they all tend to separate the topmost sheet from the main stack.

The bending of the forward end of the sheet, by the suction cup, into the dotted line position 49 has proved, in practice, to be a great advantage, as it has more'tendency to separate the topmost sheet from the stack than any other of the operations. If feeding comparatively thin sheets that have a tendency to stick together, it is found very desirable to increase this angular bending of the forward end of the sheet to the position 49. This is permitted by the pivotal mounting 16 of the holder 15. For instance, by raising it into the dotted line position shown at 15a-it can readily be seen that the angular forward bend 49 becomes still greater than when the stack is in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 6.

The timing of the suction bellows 34 and the blowing bellows 25 is such that each acts separately. The bellows 25 is preferably eX- hausting'through the slots 24 while the suction cups are descending from the elevated position 32a. The sheets are thus partly separated before the suction members contact with the topmost sheet. The bellows 34 is then actuated to produce a suction which is sufficiently strong to exhaust the cup 32 and collapse or draw it up to the position shown at 32b in Fig. 6, thus bending the outer end of the sheet to the position 49, previously described.

Movement of the link 39, through means of the timing disk 41, crank pin 40 and sliding block 42, then rocks-the crank 38 and lifts the arm 31 into the elevated position where the sheet is removed by the action of the feed rollers 34 and 35. The timing or movement of the bellows 34 is, however, such that the suction is released a moment previvous to the time that the paper is removed by the feed rollers. The lower roller 35, mounted on the arm 36, is swung from the full line position shown to the dotted line position 36a when the paper is removed. This is accomplished by means of a link 50 connected at one end to crank arm 36 and at the other end to a lever- 51 pivotally mounted-,fas at 52, on the side ofthe main frame A.e This .n incense lever is rocked hy means ol' a roller 5B carried by the timing disk il 'The lever is in this manner rocked once or every revolution olE the timing ldisk, and this movement is transmitted, through link 50, to more the rocker arm 36 from the full line position to the dotted line position shown; the timing beingv such that the dotted line position is reached a moment after the topmost sheet has been elevated to the position shown at 32. r"he sheet is delivered by the rollers Pri and to the carrier ll, which in turn delivers the sheet to the registering pins l() ot' the press.

Another important feature oi' the present invention the provision of means for stopiliing the feeding ot paper when the sheet is not properly delivered to the registering pins.

.This is accomplished by throwing` arm. 36, with connected roller out of operative position and this accomplished as tolloivs; Mounted in an ollset 50a, on the link 50. is a pair ot electro-magnets 54, and pivoted adjacent to said magnets and operated by same is an armature @ne end of the armature is so positioned that it will normally clear the lower end or a trip latch 56 when reciprocated or moved in unison with link 50. T he trip latch 56 normally holds the throwoii lever 57 in Athe vertical position shown in Figs. l and l5. This throw-off mechanism forms no part oli the present invention as it is already employed on a press ot' the character shown.

Mounted rearwardly ot the registering pins l0 is a spring' 58 Which normally engages With an electric contact 59. The spring is connected through a Wire 60 (see Fig. 20) With one side of a battery 6l. rlhe electric contact 59 is connected through Wire 62 With one terminal of the electromagnets 54. 'The opposite terminal ot said magnets is connected through a Wire 63 With a spring contact Gil, and the opposite terminal of battery 6l is connected through a Wire 65 with one end of a pivotally mounted lever 66. Contact 59 and spring 5S, as previously described, are mounted rearwardly of the registering pins l0. rlhe elcctromagnets, with connected armature, are carried by the link 50. The spring contact 6e and the pivotally mounted arm 66 are carried by the upper end of lever 5l, While the battery may be placed at any convenient point on or away from the press.

The delivery of a sheet of paper by the carrier ll into the proper position, With relation to the registering pins l0, will cause the sheet to pass between the spring con tact 58 and the terminal 59, in this manner breaking a circuit between same. Roller 53 carried by the timingdisk is at the same time in a position Where it engages the pivotally mounted arm 66, so as to move it into engagement with the spring Contact 64:. NO

forme l through contact 58 and 'terminal 59.

This circuit is completed the moment roller 53 swings arm 66 into engagement with contact 64:. A complete circuit is thus established through the battery 6i and the nets 5l. rEhe armature will then be attracted and its outer end 55@- Will he lifted into the dotted line position shown in Fig. l5 v lere it will engage with one end of the latch 56 and rock this in the direction or arroiv. The throw-ott lever is 'l' us released and swings about its pivot 07a into the dotted line position shot 1n, i" reason the tension of the spring 57h. Connecting the throw-oli lever link 50 is flexible connection in t olf a ivire rcp-e or chain 68. This c holds link 50 and lever 5l out or .'ement With the timing disk il and roller and at the same time holds t1` "76 ne lever oc and reed roller 235 in the iull line position shown Fig. 6. The paper raised by the suction cups will be lropped each elevation as the relies are not in position to take the paper avvay. lt can, therefore, beseen that failure ci the feeding mechanism to deliver sheet to the registering pins immediately trips the mechanism locks link 50, with connected mechanism, in a. position Where feed roller 35 is inoperative, just preventing the delivery of sheets until the mechanism has heen adjusted or the sheet that caused the trouble is removed. lhe failure of prompt delivery ot a sheet by the rollers 3a and 35 and the carrier 1l to the registering pins l0 is caused by di erent conditions. For example, a sheet may be partly crumpled, turned, folded, or emptyr feed. Any of these conditions, or objections will cause a failure of the feeding mechanism to deliver the sheet at the proper time to the registering pins. A circuit is thus established through the separated circuit making or breaking devices shown at C and D (see Fig. 20) and the tripping mechanism is operated. The normal condition of the feeding mechanism is, however, that shown in lig. l Where the throw-o handle or lever 57 stands in a vertical position. The sheets are normally delivered to the registering pins and When so delivered break the circuit through the spring 58 and terminal 59.

The circuit is broken at this point, although it is established by lever 56 and spring contact 6st. T his, however, is not sutcient to complete the circuit and the circuit is only established when the two circuit making or breaking devices C and D are both closed and this only takes place when a sheet is not properly delivered.

Any suitable form of carrier 11 may be employed. The carrier here shown consists of a frame 70 pivotally mounted, as at 71, in the inner end of frame 14. Journaled in each end of the frame is a roller 72 over which passes a plurality of carrying tapes or belts 73, and mounted on a rod 7 4, extending crosswise of the frame, is one or more spring guides 75. Similarly secured on the rod is a pair of spring arms 76, the outer ends of which are provided with rollers 77 (see Fig. 19). The paper delivered by the feed rollers 84 and 35 and deposited upon the carrier is conveyed by the feed tapes or belts 73 between the spring guides 75 and the arms. 76. The arms 76 prevent the sheet from flying up .or off of the belts 73 as it passes with considerable speed in a downward direction, while the spring guides 75 guide the sheet into perfect position with relation to the registering pins. The length of the carrier 11 and the provision ofthe guide members 75 is of great importance as they provide a means whereby the sheet is delivered into proper position with relation to the registering pins. A perfect .register is thus obtained with the present mechanism which is practically unobtainable by automatic feeders heretofore devised.

Another important feature of the present invention is the provision of two suction cups 32. These may` be adjusted laterally in and out on the U-shaped arm 31 and preferably positioned to engage the extreme outer edges of the sheet. This manner of grasping the sheet permits a slight bulging of the sheets in the center, in this manner permitting the air discharged through the slots 24 to main? tain the sheets separated. This is important, as most -feeders generally engage the sheet in the central position and consequently force the air out from between the sheets every time the suction cups come into engagement with the stack. Thisis obviated inthe present instance by placing the suction cups to engage the sheets near the outer edges, thus permitting the sheets to bulge centrally and be separated by the air blast just described.

Another important feature of the presen invention is the pivotal mounting of the arms 31. By referring to Figs. 1 and 6 it will be seen that the cups 32, secured between the arms, swing on an arc of a circle, pulling the sheet away from the front gage or plate Q3 and thereby eliminating all friction against the end of -the sheet while it is being raised from the stack to the feeding rollers 31 and 35. This arcuate movement is, fur-1 thermore, important as itpermits the individual sheets to be grasped closer to the end or closer and closer to the end as the dis! tance traveled or lifted increases.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. The combination with a paper holder and a stack of paper supported thereby, of an arm pivotally mounted below the support adjacent to one end thereof, the free end of said 'arm being positioned to permit it to travel in a circular' vertical arc continuously away from the front stop of the paper stack while traveling in an upward direction and continuously toward the front4 stop when traveling downwardlytoward the stack, a suction cup mountedon the free end ofthe arm, means for producing a suction in the cup during the upward movement of the arm and cup to grip and elevate the topmost sheet on the stack, means for relieving the suction to release the sheet when ithas been.

elevated to a predetermined height, andmeans for removing the sheet .when released.

2. The combination with a paper holder and a stack of paper supported thereby, of an arm pivotally mounted below the support adjacent to one end thereof, the free determined height, means for removing the sheet when released, and a yielding connection for the arm and cup to a predetermined height with relation to the-stack.

3. The combination withl a paper holder and a stack of paper supported thereby, of an arm pivotally mounted below the"sup port adjacent to one end thereof, ythe free end of said arm being positioned to permit it to travel ina 'circular vertical are `continuously away from the front stop of the paper stack while traveling in an upward direction and continuously toward the front stop when'traveling downwardly toward the stack, a suction cup mounted on the free end of the arm, means for producing a sue-VV tion in the cup during the upward movement of the arm and cup to grip and elevate the topmost sheet on the stack, means for relieving the suction to release the sheet when it has been elevated -to a predetermined height, means for removing the sheet when released, and. means for permitting the arm and cup, when descending, to stop when in engagement with, the topmost sheet regardless of the height of the stack.

iso

l, The Combnaion with L pape h and a stack of papel suppomcl theeb an plvotally mfbumed below ih@ po adjacent i0 one and thefeo 'fighe @md Gf Sal@ rm being pOS'lt-oned germit drgcon and continuously tnwbr Simp when traveling duwnwzualy the fack a suction @up muntlfi free d the mm, mmm i391 produ f.; sus-tion in h@ @up dwing h@ ww movement of the zum wl cup is eevat@ the uplnost She. @D mams i201? lelavn?" the Siu-,tkm

*Us trav@ we the meet when it has been prede'iermned height, means for -he sheet when released, n sans .Aw V ing the arm am@ Cup t@ :L

and 503: pemtls ng @he zum @l 'when dfgscendmg, stop when 1n eng? bment with ghe topmos shet regzudless @E the heghf'c Uf th stack.

Tha cmubinaton with a page?! haii. :md smak of paper Supported 'zffcf; an w pvotally mouned below h@ pmf mlliacent to one and illuso@ h@ mld @if Suid zum being potonad p it 20 irma in n cfculm, Vstca mc @ultim-n au] c WDA ida- @on tinuously muy from the nnt sin? Uf the am upward papier stackwhile traveling in l (hw/@fwn and commuousy xm'mfd ih@ 1L Stop when travelmg downmudjx tommy/d.

4 f D n alle muck, a, guet-1011 @up mmmted on the free u @1l-Gua?, vu-3M are m ma he arm, miams fo' pmducmg :1 Suc- ,ikw gucgim @Umfeld mld 031g *die zum, .s fm pro- Q 1 in the @up lng fha up- 'hs :um mii @up o grip st Shl; 'the sind@ tion in the. @up during the upax'mxl m@ f\ menig Qi' the Mm and ou@ 0 grip mld U U v` .L w. 1 J. ,Lf i, Y mi@ the mpmot snee on. the 5mm? ma 'for mil-vlug the suctlon to fdo/mss me s when i?, has been devaed t@ mined height5 n pO`\.ve'-0p@23mm plmmj mmmted ndjncen t enf. l,

dual.

@nd D? said zum being potoncd un,

stop Auen traveling dmwnwzu-ly and of the mm, mams im ,QU am e a, suction. in the @up during A Summa in he g the "L25 mo'famcw of h@ :117m und @up t@ t gl; and ele Yemeni; 0f pam@ A owmos shee m h@ stuck, menus the Sucon wi @a the Shoot hns @levate the topmost She-QL on menus 'im' l'hevmgi tha suclim ille Smet when it has losen dem, f1 t@ :x pme'enf dhegh and pr deermmed helgh't, a, www3-Q 1. ug ne Sheet www feleased and lS means for limiting the upwardmovement of the cup.

10. The combination with a paper holder and a stack of paper supported thereby, of a suction cup adapted to move in a circular vertical a rc to and from the stack, means for producing a suction in the cup during the upward movement of same to grip and elevate the topmost sheet in the stack, means for relieving the suction when thesheet has been elevated to a predetermined height and for removing the sheet when released, means for limiting the upward movement of the cup, and means for limiting the downward movement of the cup.

ll. The combination with a paper holder and a stack of paper supported thereby, of a suction cup adapted to move in a circular vertical arc to and from the stack, means for producing a suction in the cup during the upward movement of same to grip and elevate the topmost sheet in the stack, means for relieving the suction when the sheet has been elevated to a predetermined height and for removing the sheet when released, means Vlor limiting the upward movement of the cup, and means for permitting the cup, when descending, to stop when in engagement` with the topmost sheet whether the stack is high or low.

l2. The combination with-a paper holder and a stack of paper supported thereby, of a. suction cup adapted to move in a circular vertical arc to and from the stack, means for producing a suction in the cup during the upward movement of same to grip and elevate the topmost sheet in the stack, means for relieving the suction when the sheet has been elevated to a predetermined height and for removing the sheet when released, and

means for tilting and supporting the paper I holder to permit the sheets to assume an angular position with relation tothe cup.

13. The combination with a paper holder and a stack of paper supported thereby, of a suction cup adapted to move in a circular vertical arc to and from the stack, means for producing a suction in the cup during the upward movement of same to grip and elevate the topmost sheet in the stack Vup into engagement with a revolving roller, means for relieving the suction when this position has been reached, means for moving a second revolving roller into engagement with the sheet and the first-named roller 13o remove the sheet, and means for limiting the upward movement of the cup.

14. The combination with a paper holder and a stack of paper supported thereby, of a suction cup adapted to move in a circular vertical arc to and from the stack, means for producing a suction in the cup during the upward movement of same to grip and elevate the topmost sheet in the stack up into engagement with a revolving roller,

means for relieving the suction when this position. has been reached, means for moving a second revolving roller into engagement with the sheet and the first-'named roller to remove the sheet, and meansfor tilting and supporting the paper holder to permit the sheets to assume an angular position with relation to the cup.

l5. The combination with a paper holder and a stack of paper supported thereby, gf a suction cup adapted to move in a circular vertical are to and from the stack, means for producing a suction in the cup during the upward movement of same to grip and elevate the topmost sheet in the stack up into engagement with a revolving roller, means for relieving the suction when this position has been reached, means for moving a second revolving roller into engagement with the sheet and the first-named roller to remove the sheet, and meansfor tilting and supporting the paper holder to permit the sheets to assume an angular position with relation to the cup.

16. The combination with a paper holder and a stack of paper .supported thereby, of

an arm pivotally mounted adjacent to one end of the stack, the free end of said arm being positioned to permit it to travel in a circular, verticalarc to and from the stack, a tubular member secured to the free end ot' the arm connected with a source of vacuum supply, said tubular member adapted to engage the top-most sheet in the stack and having its lower engaging end shaped to assume an angle with relation to the surface of the stack, and a flexible contractible, suction ycup surrounding nd secured to the tubular member having its lower end adapted to extend below the lower end of the tubular member and also adapted, when'suction or vacuum is applied, to contract lengthwise to raise one end of the topmost sheet up into engagement or Contact with the angular bottom face of the tubular member.

17. The combination with apaper holder and a stack of paper supported thereby, of a suction cup adapted to move in a circularI vertical arc to and from the stack, means for producing a suction in the cup during the upward movement of same to grip and elevate the topmost sheet in the stack, means for relieving the suction when the sheet has been elevated to a predetermined height i and :tor removing the sheet when released,

means for tilting and supporting the paper holder to permit the sheets to assume an angular position with relation to the cup, and means for forcing a blast ofair at xed intervals through the sheets endwise.

, 18. The combination with a paper holder and a'stack of paper supported thereby, of a suction cup adapted to move in a circular vertical arc to and from the stack, means for producing al suction in the cup during the upward movement of saine to grip and elevato the topnnost sheet in the stack up into engagement with e revolving roller, ineans for relieving the suction when this position has been reached, means 'or moving a second revolving roller into engagement with the sheet and the first-named roller to reinove the sheet, and means for forcing aV blast el? oir at lined intervals through the sheets endwise.

19, The combination with a paper holder and a stuck et paper supportd thereby, of a suction cup adapted to nieve in a circular vertical are to and trein the stack, means 'tor producing a suction in the cup during 'he upward niovernent et saine to grip and elevate the topinost sheet in the stack up into engagement with a rev lving roller, means for relieving the suction when this position has been reached, ineans for inoving a. second revolving roller into engagement with the sheet und the first-named roller to remove the sheet', means 'lor limiting the up 'ard iioveinent of the cup, and means Ytor forcing a blast et nir at fixed intervals through the sheets endwisem E20. El he combination with a paper holder and a stach el? paper supported thereby, of a suction cup adapted te move in a, circular vertical are to and troni the stack, ineens tor producing a suction in the cup during the upward movement et saine to grip and elevate the topmost sheet in the stach un into engagement with o revolving roller, means tor relieving the suction when this position has been reached, means for moving a second revolving roller into engagement with the sheet and the tiret-named roller to reinove the sheet, means for tilting and sunporting the paper holder to perinit the sheets to assume an angular position with relation to the cup, and ineens for forcing a blast oli air it lined intervals through the sheets enowise,

L CL The combination with e peper holder au astuclr oi? paper supported thereby, o' a suction cup adopteI nieve in a circulevertical nrc to and troni the stach, ineans ifo-r producing a suction in the cup during the upward niovenient olf saine to grip end elevate the topinost sheet in the steelt up Kto engagement with a revolving roller, ineens 'for relieving the suction when this position has been reached, ineans iter moving a, seeond revolving roller into engagement with the sheet and the i'irst-nanied roller to renieve the sheet, ineens lier tilting and supporting the paper holder to permit the sheets 'te assume an angular position with relation to the cup, und ineans or forcing a blast et air at lined intervals through the sheets endwise.

lihe combination with a paper holder and a stack of paper supported thereby, et a ,Liss

suction cup adapted to be raised and lowered with relation to the top olf the stach, said suction cup comprising a tubular ineinbe/r, the lower contacting end et which is shaped to assume an angle with relution to the surface et the stack, a. flexible, centractible suction cup surrounding and secured to the tubular ineinber having its lower end en* tending below the lower angular oottoin et the tube, ineens for producing suction in the tube and connected flexible, eontractible cup previous to and during the upward inoreinent et said nienibers lirst to permit contraction lengthwise ot" the cup to raise one end ol' the' topinost sheet up into engagenient with the angular bottoni 'face of. the tube and second to grip or hold the sheet in said position while said ineinbers are beine` raised, means tor relieving the suction to release the sheet when it has been roised to a predetermined height, and ineens for reinering the sheet when released.

ln o peper feeding inechenis i, a inerable erin, e tubularnieinber carried by the arin connected with e source et vacuum supply, a holder adopted to support a stach: ot paper, and nieans for lifting the arni and tube in a vertical direction and wav troni one end of the topinost sheet in the stack, the lower end et said tube adapted to assuine an angular position with relation to the plane of the topinost sheet to perinit the end oi' the sheet engaged by the tube to bend in an upward direction against the angular tace of the tube when vacuum is applied.

2l. The combination with paper holder and a. stack or paper supported thereby, et en arm adopted to inove in a rei-tical direction to and away freni the stack, u tubular ineinber carried by the arin lniving its lower end ongularl7 disposed with relation to the plane oi? the stack and connected with an intermittent source et vacuum su, ly, and a flexible, contractible suction, cup surrounding and secured to the tubular ineinber and having lower end adopted to et below the lower end oli the tubulin. inenibern The combination with a and a stach oit paper supporte an arin adopted te nieve in a if i tion to and owen troni the ineinber carriec v the arin havi r its lower end angularljv -iiisposed with on to the plane f stack and connor? A with an interniittent source et vacuum supplyy a tieni ble, contractible suction cup surround and secured to the tubular nieinber and haring its lower end adapted to below the lower end of the tubular ineinber, and a heat?.T reinforced annular edge ternied on the lower Ld of the suction cup. ille combination with and e stach et paper supporter il l adopted to nieve in 'vertical direcl a tubular oaper holder therebv., of

tion to und away from the stack, a tubular member carried by the arm having its lower end angularly disposed with relation to the plane of the stack and connected with an intermittent source -of vacuum supply, a flexible, contractible suction cup surrounding and secured to the tubular member and having its lower end adapted to extend below the lower end of the tubular member, and means for directing a blast of air at fixed intervals 10 against the end of the paper stack.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ABRAHAM BLOCK. Witnesses JOHN H. HERRING, W. W.,HEALEY. 

